Ancient Art and Antiquities Catalogue


Ethiopian Manuscripts & Antiquities (4 Items)

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Item Code: es3
Description: An Ethiopian protective scroll.
Materials: Natural vegetable dyes and ink on vellum.
The text, in the Classical Ethiopic language (Ge'ez), comprises a prayer designed to protect a woman named as Wolete Mariam against evil spirits which are causing her to suffer pain.
Two talismans, one at the head and one at the foot.
The scroll would have been composed by a priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. It would have been carried by the owner or placed in her house to provide constant protection.
The Ethiopian protective scroll tradition incorporates both Christian and pre-Christian elements. Much of the religious iconography is clearly understood, but the precise meaning of many of the talismanic symbols is unknown.
It was believed that all afflictions of the body and soul were caused by the presence of evil spirits. The prayers in these scrolls frequently invoke the wisdom of Solomon and the strength of various saints to invest the priest with the power of healing.
Origin: Northern Ethiopia, circa late 19th century A.D.
Dimensions: Length: 126 cm / Diameter: 10 cm
Price: AUD $1,200.00 USD $840.00 EUR €636.00
Status: Available
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Item Code: es5
Description: An Ethiopian protective scroll.
Materials: Natural vegetable dyes and ink on vellum.
The text, in the Classical Ethiopic language (Ge'ez), comprises a prayer designed to protect a woman named as Wolete Iyassu against evil spirits.
Four talismans, depicting entrapped demons and angel.
The scroll would have been composed by a priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. It would have been carried by the owner or placed in her house to provide constant protection.
The Ethiopian protective scroll tradition incorporates both Christian and pre-Christian elements. Much of the religious iconography is clearly understood, but the precise meaning of many of the talismanic symbols is unknown.
It was believed that all afflictions of the body and soul were caused by the presence of evil spirits. The prayers in these scrolls frequently invoke the wisdom of Solomon and the strength of various saints to invest the priest with the power of healing.
Origin: Northern Ethiopia, circa late 19th century A.D.
Dimensions: Length: 185 cm / Diameter: 9.6 cm
Price: AUD $1,250.00 USD $875.00 EUR €662.50
Status: Available
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Item Code: 05491
Description: An Aksumite bronze figure of a male, his head encircled by a halo and body entwined with a snake.
The iconography possibly relates to the legendary figure Angabo, who is said to have come from the land of the Sabaeans (Yemen) and freed Ethiopia from the tyranny of a giant serpent-dragon named Wainaba. He was granted the kingship of Ethiopia in return for this deed. These events are referred to in the story of the Queen of Sheba and are supposed to have taken place in the distant past (in all likelihood sometime in the first millennium BCE).
There is evidence that some early religious cults in Ethiopia included snake-like entities in their pantheon.
Ex Private Collection, Netherlands.
Accompanied by a display stand.
Origin: Aksumite Kingdom, circa 4th-9th century A.D., Ethiopia
Dimensions: Height: 9 cm
Price: AUD $1,850.00 USD $1,295.00 EUR €980.50
Status: Available
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Item Code: eb4
Description: Ethiopian book, ink on vellum, in the classical Ge'ez language, containing stories related to St George.
One page with top left corner missing. Leather protective carry case.
Origin: Early 20th century
Dimensions: Height: 37 cm, width: 26 cm
Price: AUD $4,850.00 USD $3,395.00 EUR €2,570.50
Status: Available